§ Mr. John Wellsasked the Minister of Health if he will take steps to ensure that sufficient places are kept open at spa hospitals to treat all rheumatic and arthritic patients until such time as new medical remedies replace spa treatments.
§ Mr. SnowOnly a small proportion of rheumatic and arthritic patients are treated in spa hospitals.
It is for regional hospital boards to decide whether the facilities available in National Health Service hospitals for the treatment of such patients, which include in many cases facilities comparable to those provided in spa hospitals, need to be supplemented by contractual arrangements with such hospitals.